Women of color spent US$8.6 billion on bleaching creams worldwide in 2020
An eye-popping number!
Thailand: Toxic whitening creams seized from four factories
The creams contained mercury, hydroquinone, and steroids. Each jar cost about 70 US cents to make and sells for US$4 each — a potentially 400-500% profit for the sellers of such creams on social media and elsewhere.
Huge profits can explain why these harmful creams are advertised and sold aggressively online — they offer a windfall for sellers, and the easy money makes it easier to turn a blind eye to the damage the creams would do to anyone who buys and uses them.